Canada

After learning that Saeed Malekpour has returned to Canada following close to 11 years of unjust and unlawful imprisonment in Iran, Amnesty International Canada Secretary General Alex Neve said:

“We are relieved and delighted to learn of Saeed Malekpour’s safe return to Canada after more than a decade in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison. Saeed’s resilient spirit in the face of torture, psychological abuse, forced confessions and unjust imprisonment has been truly remarkable.  His return home is testament as well to the courage and dedication of his sister, Maryam Malekpour, who diligently worked to shed light on his situation and tirelessly led the campaign for his freedom. Amnesty International Canada extends a warm welcome home to Saeed and wishes him and Maryam well in their long-awaited reunion.”

Alex Neve further said:

VANCOUVER, B.C. – On the 5th anniversary of the Mount Polley Mine disaster, a delegation lead by Amnesty International will travel to Mitchell Bay on Quesnel Lake to deliver hundreds of messages of solidarity from all over Canada to people affected by the 2014 mining disaster. 

Starting on Aug. 1, the delegation will follow the salmon’s migratory route from the Pacific Ocean, up the Fraser River and to Quesnel Lake, known as an ‘incubator’ for returning salmon. They’ll make several stops along the way, taking photos of the “solidarity salmon” messages and those travelling with the caravan.  

“These solidarity messages show that Canadians have been watching the devastating aftermath of the Mount Polley Mine disaster – which is still ongoing,” said Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada. “We at Amnesty International are also throwing our support behind Indigenous peoples and those living near Quesnel Lake who have been harmed by the contamination stemming from the mining disaster.”  

We were informed that the Department of Justice will release tomorrow (Friday) the findings of an external review of Dr. Hassan Diab's extradition to France in 2014.

The external review was conducted by Murray Segal, former Deputy Attorney General of Ontario. Mr. Segal was asked to to assess whether Department of Justice officials followed the law and departmental procedures while pursuing France’s request to extradite Diab.

After the release of Mr. Segal’s report, there will be a press conference on Parliament Hill. Speakers include: Hassan Diab, Don Bayne (Diab’s Canadian lawyer), Justin Mohammed (Human Rights Law and Policy Campaigner at Amnesty International Canada), and Roger Clark (spokesperson for the Hassan Diab Support Committee).

What:  Press conference reacting to Murray Segal’s report on Hassan Diab’s extradition case
Where:  135-B Press Conference Room in West Block on Parliament Hill, Ottawa
When:  Friday July 26, 2019, 3:00 PM

Background

Amnesty International is calling afresh on the Government of Canada to immediately suspend the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA), in light of a new US Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security rule that will bar people from claiming refugee protection in the US, if they cross the southern land border and fail to apply for protection in a transit country. The new rule makes it unambiguously clear that the US refugee protection system in no way adequately guarantees the rights of those seeking to make claims in that country.

Dear TripAdvisor employees,

We are writing to ask you to join us in speaking out against TripAdvisor’s role in driving human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Amnesty International is the world’s largest human rights organization, with more than seven million supporters and members globally. Through research and campaigning, we help ensure respect for people’s human rights and that those who violate them are held accountable. We also campaign for a world in which companies respect human rights and don’t contribute to, or profit from, human rights violations wherever they operate in the world.

(Victoria/Vancouver, B.C., July 4, 2019) - As Taseko Mines once again attempts to force its way with an injunction to start drilling in Tŝilhqot’in ancestral territory at Fish Lake (Teztan Biny) without the consent of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation, a broad network of citizens, experts, and environmental organizations are calling for urgent reform of BC’s outdated mining laws. 

The new network, launched in May 2019, is urging the B.C. government to reform the Mineral Tenure Act to respect no-go zones and decisions by local residents and First Nations, in line with best practices and international law.

Need for Reforms

 “The Panel is convinced that the Tsilhqot’in cultural attachment to Fish Lake (Teztan Biny) and the Nabas areas is so profound that they cannot reasonably be expected to accept the conversion of that area into the proposed New Prosperity mine.” – from the 2013 federal environmental assessment of the last project proposed by Taseko Mines and ultimately rejected by the federal government 

Amnesty International is urging the Province of British Columbia to suspend permits that could allow destructive mineral exploration to begin as early as this week on lands that the Tsilhqot’in National Government has long sought to protect.

The Tsilhqot’in people describe Teẑtan Biny (Fish Lake) and Yanah Biny (Little Fish Lake) and the surrounding area as “a place of profound cultural and spiritual significance.” The destructive impacts of mining exploration cannot be justified, especially in light of the fact that exploration will almost certainly never lead to the actual opening of a mine.